http://blog.betteradvertising.com/2009/12/07/self-regulation-your-business-and-your-privacy/

By Scott Meyer, CEO, Better Advertising

Fitting The Pieces of Self-Regulation Together

WASHINGTON – At Better Advertising, we believe that industry self-regulation is the key to more transparent ads that produce better results. How our industry fits the pieces of Self-Regulation together will be a major topic of conversation at the FTC’s Exploring Privacy Roundtables. The first is Monday, December 7th. Better Advertising will be there, actively tweeting and blogging. Keep an eye out for me, Colin O’Malley and Sim Simeonov. And, Better Advertising will be filing a request to participate at the next one on January 28th in Berkley.
Read the full story

NEW YORK – The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to withdraw recently issued enforcement guidance regarding the opinions and commentary of bloggers and other participants in social media, saying the rules unfairly and unconstitutionally impose penalties on online media for practices in which offline media have engaged for decades. In an open letter to FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, Randall Rothenberg, the President and CEO of the IAB, called the FTC’s distinction between offline media and online media, “constitutionally dubious.”
Read the full story

US bloggers and publishers of all sizes are now asked to declare all forms of compensation they receive in order to promote products and services on their sites. Not doing to can lead to penalties of up to 11,000 USD, according to new regulations issued earlier by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

It is for the first time since 1980 that the FTC modifies regulations with regard to testimonials, endorsements, shopping advices, reviews; it is also for the first time that blogs are to be monitored as well.
Read the full story

Fully-integrated, End-to-End Solution Simplifies Contract Management for Web publishers

NEW YORK – 24/7 Real Media, Inc., the leading global digital marketing company, introduced Open AdStream® with fully integrated end-to–end contract management functionality powered by FIVIA. This functionality will integrate seamlessly with Open AdStream to offer publishers around the world a powerful all-in-one ad management solution.

Open AdStream streamlines the advertising management process while the addition of contract management automates workflow for publishers every step of the way, from sales to billing. With the added efficiency, Web publishers can now maximize resources and consolidate advertising management, ultimately increasing revenue and decreasing costs.
Read the full story

NEW YORK – Four leading marketing and advertising industry associations stated their continuing commitment to work together to develop a cross sector set of privacy principles for online behavioral advertising in order to respond to the challenge issued today by the Federal Trade Commission for comprehensive industry self regulation. The cross-industry group represents the first time the entire marketing and media industry has come together to develop a cohesive and far-reaching self-regulatory effort for interactive advertising. The associations are the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s), the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). The Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB), a leading organization dedicated to advancing marketplace trust, is also part of the effort.
Read the full story

Gregory Markel, CEO of Search and Digital Marketing Firm Infuse Creative, LLC, Was Part of a Panel at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles to Discuss the Impact of Product Placement, Sponsorship, Commenting, Blogging and Ad Linking in Film, Television, Video Games, Online Gaming, Social Media and Search Engine Marketing and Advertising

LOS ANGELES – Infuse Creative CEO Gregory Markel spoke at the annual MLRC/Southwestern Law School Media and Entertainment Law Conference on Thursday, January 15.

The panel, titled “What Happens When Protected Speech Meets Embedded Promotions? Product Integration, Sponsorship and Ad Linking,” dealt with the current and potential legal issues surrounding television, film, videos games, online gaming, and online video product placement, search engine marketing or PPC, copyright and trademark issues.
Read the full story

NEW YORK – Four leading marketing and advertising industry associations announced that they are working together to develop enhanced self-regulatory principles for online behavioral advertising in order to address privacy concerns and to increase consumers’ trust and confidence in how online information is gathered and used. This cross-industry self-regulatory initiative represents the first time the entire marketing-media ecosystem has come together to develop practices in interactive advertising. The associations are the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA), the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). The Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB), a leading organization dedicated to advancing marketplace trust, is also part of the effort.
Read the full story

Merger between Search Engine Marketing Specialists Will Support Japan’s Largest Advertising Company and Market 24/7 Real Media’s Decide DNA® Technology to Dentsu’s and Other Agencies’ Clients

NEW YORK & TOKYO – 24/7 Real Media, Inc. (“24/7”), the leading digital marketing company, and cyber communications, inc. (“cci”) (4788.T), Japan’s leading media representative company, announced the merger of their subsidiaries DENTSU e-LINK, INC. and K.K. 24-7 Search to form Dentsu Search & Link. Japan’s largest advertising agency Dentsu Inc. (“Dentsu”), currently a shareholder in both subsidiaries, shall remain a shareholder of the newly merged company. Dentsu Search & Link will deliver a full spectrum of search engine marketing (“SEM”) services to the Japanese market. Financial terms were not disclosed.

cci and Dentsu will contribute their extensive Japanese marketing industry knowledge and connections to the venture, and consign to the venture SEM services provided to their clients. 24/7 will license its industry-leading Decide DNA® technology and provide its search engine marketing expertise to Dentsu Search & Link. Takeshi Matsuoka, currently Director and President of KK 24-7 Search, will serve as President and CEO of Dentsu Search & Link.
Read the full story